Choose a location that provides the following:
A large, sturdy desk or table. Make sure it can easily support the
weight of your system, including all its components.
A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors
attract static electricity, which erases data on your disks and can
damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper
ventilation.
Good air circulation. Air must be able to move freely under the sys-
tem as well as behind it. Leave several inches behind the computer
clear to allow ventilation.
Moderate environmental conditions. You need to protect your com-
puter from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke.
Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High humidity also
hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area. Since you can’t risk
losing data stored on disk, do not expose your computer to dust and
smoke which can damage disks and disk drives.
Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all
your equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt, grounded outlets. You need
one outlet for the main unit, one for the monitor, and additional
outlets for a printer and any other peripherals. The two auxiliary
power outlets on the back panel of the Equity II reduce the number of
wall outlets you need (see ‘The Back Panel” in this chapter).
No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any
electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field. Surprisingly,
even a telephone can cause trouble, especially if you keep diskettes
right next to it.
When you find the ideal location for your Equity II, you can start to
set up your system.